One year has passed since the National Abortion Campaign was founded on 3 Матсп 1ч 3 to co-ordinate opposition to James White's Abortion (Amendment) Bill and any other restrictive legislation. The basis of the campaign was that it should be a woman's right to choose whether to terminate or continue her pregnancy.
During these twelve months the National Abortion Campaign has gained tremendous support. NAC groups have been set up all around the country and support has been received from numerous trade unions and trades councils.
One month after the founding meeting in march, an extremely successtul meeting was held at the House of Commons to explain the campaign. Over 800 people attended. This was the biggest public meeting in the House of Commons for over 10 years.
The numbers soon swelled to 25,000 when a national demonstration in protest against the Abortion (Amendment) Bill was held on 21 June. Support rom al over bram ano aso incuded persons from France, Holland, Switzerland and Portugal. A petition with 150,000 signatures was presented to Parliament - the culmination of a great deal of activity by the local groups. This showing of forces on 21 June had a great impact around te countyDuring the summer months local groups picketed and demonstrated outside Department of Health and Social security orces against the resuncuive recommendations in the third special report of the Select Committee, which was presented to the press on 5 August. In September came one of the campaign's biggest successes to date, when the TUC and Labour Party conferences both passed motions in support of abortion on request Then on 18-19 October, 1,000 people came together at Imperial College in London to discuss collectively the best way to carry the campaign forward. It was agreed to call a week of action against the reconstitution of the Select Committee and to prepare for a mass moolsauon m me new year to com bar me urear orresmicuve easiation.
With the end of the parliamentary session in Uctober, te Abortion (Amend ment) Bill automatically fell. But in February, 1976, a motion was put to Parliament to reconvene the Select Committee to consider further the Abortion (Amendment) bill and turner protests were organised around the country.
Shortly after the Select Committee had been reconvened, six of the 14 MPs serving on it resigned leaving only anti-abortionists on the committee. With the support of several other pro-abortion organisations, NAC decided not to submit any evidence to this rump Select Committee but instead to Dresent men evidence to the public at a later date.
NAC has had great success over the past twelve months in making people aware of the attacks on abortion rights and in organising to defend these rights. But the situation today is more restrictive than it was a year ago; and if the reconvened Select Committee has its way, two-thirds or tnose women racing un wanted pregnancies will be unable to get safe, legal abortions and will be forced into the hands of the backstreet Dutchers.
FAYE THOMPSON INAC Steering Committee) a DOTGOIL society offers women. their hands. the evidence The resignation of the six MPs from the Select Committee has made it clear that this body will do nothing but further restrict women's right to We should ask ourselves - why should any parliamentary body have the right to control women's fertility?' This control should be in the hand of women themselves. It's women who must bear the consequences of unwanted pregnancies which tie them closer to the family and make it impossible for them to have even the limited amount of independence this DODIE WEPPLER, an IMG r tee, writes on the next steps